THESE painted postcards printed between 1903 and 1959, showing views across St Helens, have been found in a research library in Chicago, USA.

Images of the postcards were shared online and the Star contacted the library, which preserves rare books, maps, music, manuscripts, and other material.

Will Hansen, the director of reader services and curator of Americana at Newberry Library, said: “The postcards were all produced by Raphael Tuck and Sons, and came to the Newberry Library as part of the transfer of postcard collections from the Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda, Illinois in 2016.

“They were collected by Leonard Lauder, who began collecting postcards as a child – this spurred him to become one of the world’s most notable collectors of fine art as an adult, but he remained interested in postcard collecting.

“The St Helens postcards are part of the Tuck company’s Oilettes series, promoted as ‘veritable miniature oil paintings.’

“The Oilettes included many views of landscapes and city scenes from all over the United Kingdom but also many international sites around the world.

“We are delighted that you contacted us to show your interest in the digitised collection of postcards here, and gratified to know that they are being viewed around the world, including in St Helens.”

When do you think these postcards were painted by the clothing in the pictures?